Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Defiance

Well, the Talley high rings arrived yesterday, mounted the scope and the bolt handle clear by about at 1/8" which should be fine. The scope objective sits about 3/8" over the carbon barrel which is not ideal but it will have to do. Next step, to the range!

[quote=257Bob]I don't want to be too hard on Defiance as they have been great to work with but I really don't understand how they can design a bolt handle that won't work with a common scope, they tell me the https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018704156?pid=381965 has a large ocular end but I have five of these on Christensen Arms actions (one Model 70) and never had a problem. I had to completely disassemble the rifle to send it back and it's still a problem and the new action is worse. I'll use the pic rail on project #2 but it's not my first choice. It does have me pondering other options for my next DIY/pre-fit project (7mm PRC) but I have some time to settle that one.[/quote

Given any thought to a Tikka. Don't get me wrong, Defiance is a great action, albeit bolt handle clearance issues. 60* bolt lift, voids all bolt handle clean e issues.

WiFowler, I have sold more rifles than I currently own, I was an avid Winchester 70 collector in the 90s when they went back to CRF, since then I've sold off most of my collection and put the funds into new and interesting projects. I still have a safe full of rifles ready to hunt so these days I tinker simply for entertainment. I've had many rifles rebarreled and restocked by smiths but I really have not interest in that these days as the pre-fit barrels and actions are generally available so the opportunities exceed my willingness to spend money on them. This project was my first DIY where I sourced all of the parts and tools (action wrench, headspace gauges, barrel vise, etc) and enjoyed putting it all together, really quite simple after watching many videos on the subject. Going the conventional route with lather and chamber reamer is simply out of my realm. The headspace checked out fine, go-gauge chambered as it should, no-go did not, about half a handle down before it stopped. Time on the range this weekend will tell if it will shoot. I don't see myself buying any factory rifles in the future but if I wanted an off the rack shooter, I'd give Tikka a hard look.

257Bob, totally understand. Like you, I've bought and sold more guns than I care to think of - and some I wished I'd never parted with - and still have multiple safes full. That being said, I too have built my fair share. Whether it was threading, chambering, etc, myself on my lathe, farming it out to a smith, or of late, a few prefits.

FWIW, the days following Hornady's 'day in the limelight' (aka 'official' release date of the 7 PRC - Oct 26) I'd hazard a guess that any number of barrel manufacturers' will be releasing pre-fit barrels. I just have that 'gut' feeling. WIth that in mind, don't give up hope of a 7mm PRC pre-fit.

Preferred Barrels has the 7mm PRC option now https://preferredbarrelblanks.com/p...y-ruckus-anti-and-anti-x-1-061x16px-950/ I have a short action Tenacity that I just bought so I'm going to build a 6mm CM to replace the one I'm selling then start to looking for a receiver for the PRC.

Gotcha. My 7 PRC should ready in a couple of weeks if all goes well.

Looking forward to seeing photos of that, mine will be a bit delayed but hopefully ammo will be available by the time it's built. I do handload but my gear is packed away due to a recent move and not in a hurry to set it up.

Got out to the range at hunting camp, poor rifle rest but has potential. Bought a box of the cheapest ammo I could find, Federal 150 gr as I wanted to sight it in to hunt hogs for the evening but didn't want to shoot a bunch of ammo until I got the suppresser. Fired it 11 times, this is shots 9-11. Stock was drop in, no bedding, I think it has some potential with a little tweaking.

Custom Rifle and Wildcat (really, she's an outdoor cat that showed up as a kitten and stayed).

Sweet setup! Side note, cat looks posessed by the devil. lol

Yep, cat not liking interruption, she's a good mouser though...

Cat does look mean, maybe the mice just give up once they see her

Forgot, nice looking rifle

Added a bipod...

Cat doesn't look that mean.....maybe a little defiant.....

(Groan!)